Masseter Toxin for Clenching and Grinding

Here at Smile Hub Dental Clinic, we provide Masseter toxin for clenching and grinding. Toxin is an injectable muscle relaxer. It uses neurotoxin that temporarily paralyzes the muscle. Toxin is usually used to create a smoother appearance of line and wrinkles but can be injected into your masseter muscle near your cheekbone to reduce facial pain.

What is masseter toxin?

The masseter is one of the muscles located at the side of your face and connects the jawbone to the cheekbone. This helps you to chew. When toxin is injected into the masseter muscle it is known as masseter toxin or jaw toxin. The botulinum toxin to temporarily block the nerve signals in the masseter muscle which prevents it form moving.

Botox in the masseter is normally used for:

managing teeth grinding known as bruxism
reducing jaw tension, pain, and clenching
relieving migraines and headaches
creating a more contoured square jaw
creating a more balanced face shape

Before masseter toxin treatment

Before getting masseter toxin, you’ll have a consultation with one of our expert Face Hub clinicians who will go through your goals and concerns. They will also do a full examination of your face and jaw to determine if you are a good candidate for treatment.

The actual procedure will take place in a doctor’s office. You won’t need to go to the hospital.

During masseter toxin treatment

Your Face Hub clinician will clean the area to reduce the risk of infection. They will then apply a topical anaesthesia to numb the area.
They will then prepare a thin syringe with the botulinum toxin.
They will then insert the needle into your masseter muscle and slowly and carefully withdraw the needle as they inject the toxin.
Depending on your specific case, they may do the same procedure on the other side. The treatment typically lasts 15 minutes.

After the treatment

Once the treatment is complete, you can go about your day as this treatment doesn’t require any recovery time.

However, you will need to avoid the following for the 24 hours as they can spread the toxin to other areas of the face:

rubbing the treated area
placing pressure on the treated area
exercise

Results will be noticeable within a week with some patients seeing results in 1 to 3 days. The results from this treatment usually last 3 to 4 months. To maintain the results we recommend getting top ups every few months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I suitable masseter toxin treatment?

A person who is healthy and has problems with pain or tension in the jaw is a good candidate for this procedure. This treatment may not be suitable if:

You have a skin infection near the area
You have previous allergies or reactions to dermal filler
You take medication which affects bleeding such as aspirin and warfarin
You take steroids
You have an autoimmune disease
You have a bleeding condition
You are pregnant or breastfeeding

How long will masseter toxin last?

The length masseter toxin lasts depend on the person’s metabolism. It usually can last from 3 to 4 months.

Is masseter toxin painful?

It depends on the person but usually a topical anaesthetic cream is applied to the area before the treatment is done to prevent any pain or discomfort. If there is any discomfort it is usually mild.

Can I sleep on my face after masseter toxin?

The first few days after treatment it is recommended that you avoid sleeping on your face and try to sleep on your back. It is important to avoid touching them until the toxin has settled.